Apparatus for treatment of deciduous fruit



A. GUlGNARD ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF DECIDUOUS FRiIIT Filed March 1927 April 2, 1929.

NTORS IGNARO 38E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES time PATENT OFFICE.

I aueusr eurenann, AUGUST Bossn, AND JOHN euxenaan, or' noon arvna, oaaeon.

' APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF DEGIDUOUS FRUIT.-

Application filed; March 2, 1927. Serial No. 178,095.

This invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of deciduous fruit and has for its primary object the provision of new, novel, useful and positively functiomn means for thoroughly removing all traces o arsenate of lead from the fruit, or for neutralizing the effect thereof so that when subsequently washed and dried, the fruit will be entirely clean and in a condition where 1t may be packed and made ready for the market.

In carrying our invention into practice wherein, as stated, an essential step consists in treating the fruit to eliminate all traces of arsenate of lead, we have devised certain other co-operating novel features for (2) subjecting the fruit to a cleansing or purifying bath, and (3) subjecting the fruit to a drying treatment where all free molsture will be evacuated from the fruit so that same is in a perfectly dry state when packed for shipment.

The invention, among other novel features of construction embodies a bath tank having means for conveying fruit therethrough while subjectin same to the action of one or more bath so utions or liquids; and mechanisms operating in time with'the rocess of so conveying the fruit for permitting the conveying operation to be continuously conducted, thereb making it possible for the eguipment to andle a maximum quantity fruit in a minimum period of time. 'We lay and operation of means for neutralizing the spray residue which is contained upon the -surface of the fruit as the latter comes from the orchard, and we find that this important purpose in view can be carried into practical operation by expelling this spray residue or by neutralizin the effect thereof by virtue of a suitable c emical or acid solutlon such,

as a solution of hydrochloric acid to the action of which the fruit is subjected for an interval, preferably about twenty seconds, while the fruit is in flight or in continuous movement. We provide a course of travel for the fruit and divide same into what we term (1) a neutralizing zone, and (2) a washing zone, calculating the distance of travel of the fruit through the neutralizing zone so that, without a doubt, the arsenate of lead residue or poisonous spray comound, or insecticide, as the case may be, will e expelled from the fruit previous to or foleat stress upon the construction brushes where it is employed, both as a drylowing (2) the process of washing the fruit with clear water within the area of said washing zone, and 3) the process of further conveying the fruit while subjecting same to the action of a drying treatment.

In order that the work can be carried on with dispatch coupled with ahiigh measure of thoroughness, we provide a bath tank through w ich the fruit is adapted to be conveyed while being subjected to the action of the heretofore mentioned bath liquids and in order that the fruit can be fed rapidly to said tank, we associate same with a sorting table at the respective sides of which the operators may stand and separate the undesirable fruit from the desirable or choice fruit, as the latter proceeds to the tank.

We have further directed our attention to a form of sorting table whichmay be used as above set forth and which will be further characterized by means to cause leaves, fruit spurs, and other refuse to be se arated from the fruit automatically as the ruit is bein fed to the bath tank, thereby preventing suc matter from entering the tank where it would be liable to clog the circulating ducts thereof.

It is a further and important ob'ect of our invention that means are employe for causing the water remaining on the fruit as the latter emerges from the aforementioned tank tobe removed by centrifugal force induced by the, action of revolving brushes, and for supplementing this'action of the brushes by introducing a current of warm or hot air in the path of travel of the fruit over said ing medium for evaporating the free moisture contained upon the fruit and. for drying said brushes.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means whereby a fixed quantity of neutralizing acid may be held in constant circulation so that the work can be conducted --without waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of conveyor capable of handling a large quantity of fruit at one operation, and-which is equipped'with means at the outlet of the tank for dividing the discharging flow of the fruit and for causin 106 short space of time, while producing a machine of comparatively small size that will take up but little floor space.

It is a further object of ouriinvention to provide a spray system functioning as aforementioned and further operating as a means for turning the fruit as it is conveyed through the spray, the spray coming in impinging contact with the fruit as it travels over its course, thereby setting up this turning motion and causing all portions of the fruit to be thoroughly subjected to the action of the spray.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will-hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.-

ln the accompanying drawings has been illustrated the preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but

that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure 1 is a view in plan of the machine;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary trans'verse section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a cross section through 'a conveyor rod used in our device.

We make use of a bath tank 10 having a fruit intake 11 at one end and an outlet 12 at its opposite end. The tank is formed with a bottom having portions 13 and 14: which are respectively oppositelyinclined downward and which are separated from each other by a transverse rib or curb 15.

Within the tank is an endless conveyer 16, the same made up of round rods 17 covered with soft rubber as a means of protection to the fruit when in contact therewith. These rods are suitably spaced apart to allow intercepted liquid sprays or showers to pass through the spaces therebetween. Said rods are carried by chains 18 which run over the sprockets 19 and which find support against sagging by resting in free moving contact with rails 19 mounted on the respective sides of the tank. The conveyer can of course be driven in any suitable well known manner and at such speed as may be found desirable for the purpose intended.

Adjacent to the intake 11 of the tank 10 is a sorting table 20 having a foraminated conveyer 21 consisting in the present instance of a series of spaced apart rubber belts 22 all of which are adapted to be driven at the same speed'by suitable power applied to the shaft 23. In this manner of constructing the c011- veyer 21, it manifestly follows that as fruit woman 9 taken out by the hands of assistants at the respective sides of said table, thus reducing the amount of useless fruit going into the machine, and increasing the capacity to a marked extent. The table has its discharge end provided with a chute 24k which passes into the opening 11 where it overlies the front end of the conveyer 16. The opposite end of the table has a hopper or tray 25 for receiving the fruit as it is manually poured therein and which functionsto permit the fruit to discharge upon the belts 22 of said table.

W ithin the tank 10 is a spray system which extends within a neutralizing zone, the same consisting of that space within the tank occupying a position at the left of the curb 15. Said system consists of a pump 26 from which a pipe line 27 extends and is operatively associated, and, as illustrated, said pipe line has a lower branch 28 underlying the conveyer l6 and a branch 29 which overlies said conveyer. Each of these branches carries spray nozzles 30, those on the branch 28 extended upward and those of the branch 29 extending downward so that showers or sprays. are respectively discharged in two directions, each intercepted by the plane of movement of the conveyor and adapted to be ejected entirely through the interstices of the conveyer surfaces where the fruit on the upper lead of the conyeyer will come in effective contact therewit A spray system 31 is made to occupy the space within the tank 10 at the right hand side of the curb 15 which we have elected to refer to as a washing zone. This system is identical in construction with the spray system contained within the aforementioned neutralizing zone and is connected with a force or pressure pump 32 so that continuous showers or sprays of clear water may be made to traverse the path of movement of the conveyer from points both above and below same.

The drying mechanism 33 consists in the present instance of two side by side sets of spiral drying and cleaning rolls or brushes 3434. These rolls or brushes are set parallel to-each other and near enough together to permit fruit to come between them and to be impelled thcreover for the length of said brushes. The brushes of each of said sets can be driven respectively in opposite directions or they may be driven in the same directions, as may be found most expedient. Said bl'ushes'of each of the sets above mentioned are mounted within a container 35 having centrally disposed inlets 36 and correspondin 1y disposed outlets 37. The discharge en of the tank 10 is p'rovidedwith a deflector 38 havinginclined runways 39-39, one for each of the brush'sets above referred to, the outer ends of said runways entering the containers at points directly above the intake ends of the companion brushes 34.

A blower 4O conventionally illustrated herein is employed for the purpose of delivering by forced draft a continuous blast of hot air. This blower is charge duct 41 for eac of the containers 35. Said duct leads upward from the blower and is connected with the bottom of its container near the intake end thereof. In this manner a stream of hot air may be constantly made to impinge against the brushes 34, maintaining them in a dry condition and the said hot air is permitted to flow through the brush container and around the brushes therein so as to accelerate the drying action both of the fruit and the bristles of the brushes. In addition to this action of the air upon the fruit and the wiping action of the bristles against the fruit, we rely upon the centrifugal action of the brushes to dissipate the free moisture contained upon the fruit.

The discharge end of the tank 10 is slightly at a higher level than the intake end thereof, and the companionbrushes 34.34

' of each container 35 are slightly inclined I jets or sprays of acid solution traverse the treated in the period of travel of the conveyor both from above and below same. The conveyor being of a foraminated structure permits the spra s or jets of acid solution to freely pass t rou h so as to find effective contact with the ruit. There is sufficient impact force of the jets or sprays against the fruit to set upslight a itation or turning movement therein, 1n or er that all surfaces of the fruit can be thorou hly Fruit through the neutralizing zone, which occupies the space to the left of the curb 15. It shall, of course, be understood that the conveyor shallbe given such speed of movement as ma be found necessary to such treatment 0 the fruit that will neutralize the action of all traces of arsenicof lead residue contained upon the fruit as it. is

rovided with a distaken from the orchard. The 11' h of the neutralizing zone is so calcula and the speed of movement of the conveyor likewise previously calculated that the fruit under treatment of the acid spray may be subjected spectively above and be ow the conveyer where it passes through the interstices of the conveyerfor a return to the pum system employed for forced circulation. he length of the clear water s ray zone is calculated so that the length 0 travel of the fruit within the zone will be sufiicient to expel from the fruit all traces of the acid solution em- 10 ed in the first said zone. I The fruit then .11 e ress from the bath tank 10 and the mass 0 discharging fruit is divided respectively into portions of the same quantities.

These portions are then deflected to the respective containers 3535 where the fruit is deposited upon the parallel and downwardly inclined spiral brushes 34. These brushes are of a length sufficient to effect a perfect drying of the fruit before the fruit is discharged from the outlets 37. The brushes, as stated,

aracter such as 1% solution of hydromay be revolved in the same direction or may i be revolved respectively in opposite directions, but in either event the speed of rotation tumbles the fruit so that all surfaces thereof are subjected to the action of the brush bristles, to be wiped thereby; It is of course understood that these brushes are laced close enou h together to sup ort the ruit and convey it along on top or the brushes, so that when the discharge point 37 is reached the fruit can be deposited into receiving receptacles or conveyed to a sizin or grading machine of any suitable wel known type. Also, by placing the brushes close together we are able to utilize the ac- .tion of centrifugal force or movement of the bristles to effect free carriage of the fruit along its course, and we find that this action of centrifugal force further functions to dissipate certain of the free moisture from the fruit. To additional su plement the drying action and to maintain he brushes in a drying state, a constant blast of warm or hot air is introduced to the containers 35 from points beneath said brushes. We prefer that the intakes from the blower 40 be the intakes 36. The blast 0 hot air is delivered upward from points under the brushes and is free to circulate through the containers 35 after its initial impingement against ositioned near said brushes, all of which is highly desirable for utilizing the advantage of this hot blast both as a drymedium for the brushes and for the fruit. When the fruit is treated in the manner. aforementioned, it discharges from the outlets 37 in a perfectly dry and clean state, ready for immediate packing.

While We have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a tank having a conveyor for fruit movable therein from end to end, means for directmomma ing sprays of difi'erent'liquids at consecutive sections of the conveyor for treating the fruit and means for draining the liquids toward opposite ends of the tank for keeping the same separate.

2. In a machine of the character described, a tank having a conveyor for fruit movable therein from end to end and means for directing sprays of diiferent liquids at consecutive sections of the conveyor for treating the fruit, the bottom of the tank being made to slope from an intermediate transverse iine in opposite directions for maintaining the liquids separate.

AUGUST GUIGNARD. AUGUST BOSSE. JUHN GUIG'NARD. 

